June 24, 2024
Earlier this year, Architecture49 proudly introduced the Bill Gies Recreation Centre and Jones Family Health and Wellness Place to the Township of Wellesley and surrounding communities. This impressive facility is more than just a building—it's a vibrant hub for recreation, wellness, and community spirit. Replacing the old Wellesley Arena and Community Centre, the new centre provides modern amenities designed to enhance physical fitness and streamline service delivery for residents.
The community was eager to explore the innovative model of combining a recreation centre with a health centre. By co-locating these two elements into one building, several opportunities arise, including enhancing accessibility to health services by situating them in a familiar and frequently visited location, promoting a holistic approach to well-being that integrates physical fitness with medical care, and fostering a sense of community by creating a central hub where residents of all ages can engage in various activities.
A Tribute to Heritage and Environment
The design of the new centre reflects a deep respect for Wellesley’s local heritage and environment. The building’s placement and linear shape are crafted to blend seamlessly with the surrounding landscape. It features a simple, barn-inspired aesthetic with white metal cladding reminiscent of white-washed weathered barnboard, and a sturdy brick masonry base echoing the area’s historic barns. "We wanted to create a structure that not only serves the community's needs but also pays homage to the rich agricultural history of Wellesley," said Matthew Delean, the project's lead architect from Architecture49.
A New Cornerstone for Wellesley
The new multi-use Bill Gies Recreation Centre and Jones Family Health and Wellness Place is set to become a cornerstone of the Wellesley community, providing a modern, accessible, and sustainable facility that honors the township’s heritage while looking forward to its future. "This facility is built not just for today's needs but with an eye towards future growth and expansion," explains Matthew Delean. "It's a place where residents of all ages can come together, stay active, and build community."
Modern Design with a Community Focus
The recreation centre includes two main structures—the Arena and Gymnasium—connected by a central pedestrian street with expansive glass walls that offer clear sightlines into the main recreation spaces. This design maximizes natural light and provides beautiful views of the surrounding landscape from within the facility. "Our goal was to ensure the building feels open and inviting, with plenty of natural light and visual connections to the outdoors," Matthew explained.
The Jones Family Health and Wellness Place has been seamlessly integrated with the Recreation Centre with an interconnected vestibule, but it can also function independently when required. The one–storey structure is clearly visible upon entry to the site with ample parking with accessible spaces near the entrance, and provides a pedestrian scaled structure adjacent to the taller two-storey recreation centre structures.
The design was inspired by the concept of multi-generational use, resulting in a fully accessible centre that offers a wide range of amenities. These include an NHL sized rink with seating for 500 spectators, a multi-use gymnasium, a two-lane walking track accessed from the second floor, a fitness centre that overlooks the gymnasium with views to the outdoor park spaces, multi-use meeting rooms with an inlaid shuffleboard floor, a seniors’ centre, a youth centre, and a large multi-purpose room overlooking the rink surface. The thoughtful layout ensures clear and simple circulation for all users, allowing staff to easily monitor activities from the central reception desk. An open central stair off the lobby wraps around the elevator structure, inviting users to use the stairs rather than wait for the elevator. "We've designed the interior spaces to be flexible and adaptable, supporting a variety of community events and activities. For example, the gymnasium can be used for the various indoor sports, but also has been designed with a commercial kitchen to accommodate weddings, theatrical performances, and other special events," added Matthew.
Outdoor Amenities and Landscape Design
The site includes outdoor soccer fields, a multi-purpose court, recreational trails, and provisions for future expansions including a skatepark, playground, outdoor pool, and additional arena, ensuring that the facility will meet the community's needs for decades to come. The new trails seamlessly integrate with the existing woodlot and the Erbhaven trail system, allowing visitors to walk or bike around the entire site. The trails also link to the soccer fields and multi-purpose court, which supports tennis, basketball, and pickleball. "By integrating the trails and sports facilities with the surrounding landscape, we aimed to create a cohesive and inviting outdoor environment for all users," said Nicole Reenders, Landscape Designer.
Several patios and greenspaces are also incorporated into the design to accommodate outdoor activities and events. These include a multi-purpose lawn for farmers' markets and seasonal festivals, patios connected to the youth and seniors’ rooms for outdoor activities, and a semi-private greenspace next to the gym and kitchen for weddings and catered events.
A New Cornerstone for Wellesley
The new multi-use Bill Gies Recreation Centre and Jones Family Health and Wellness Place is set to become a cornerstone of the Wellesley community, providing a modern, accessible, and sustainable facility that honors the township’s heritage while looking forward to its future. "This facility is built not just for today's needs but with an eye towards future growth and expansion," explains Matthew Delean. "It's a place where residents of all ages can come together, stay active, and build community."